Young writers share stories in Kentfield creative writing camp

When 11-year-old Tibi Quinn read aloud a selection from his short story, he intrigued audience members with the tale of a secret agent from San Francisco who must travel back east for a mysterious special mission.

A fan of espionage novels, Tibi was inspired to develop his own undercover operative story.

"I'm into spies and James Bond," he said. "I wanted to create a character like that."

Tibi, of Kentfield, was one of about 40 students who read portions of their fiction stories and poems Tuesday night at Book Passage in Corte Madera, reading at a podium where the likes of Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Al Gore have stood before. The event marked the culmination of a nearly three-week Young Writers' Camp at Bacich Elementary School in Kentfield put on by the University of California at Berkeley Graduate School of Education's Bay Area Writing Project.

This is the 18th year the summer camp has been held at sites in Marin, San Francisco and the East Bay. The camp is open to students entering third through ninth grades and designed for youths who enjoy writing. Teachers lead the students in skill-building games and encourage them to write prose that excites the senses.

Local Camp Codirector Marj Clagett, a teacher from Petaluma, said she has helped oversee seven similar summer camps in California and Texas. She said she loves working with such motivated youngsters and that this year's group of students in Kentfield was especially gifted.

"This group was phenomenal. They were so eager, even the really little kids. They would arrive before 9 a.m. and have their Google Chromebooks all ready to start typing," Clagett said.

During Tuesday's reading in front of an audience of their parents and peers, the young writers showed off their immense imaginations with tales of an angel whose wings get clipped, a time-traveling hard boiled egg named Mr. Dumpling and a poem inspired by Russian composer Igor Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring." Each student bravely took a turn at the microphone as their parents excitedly snapped photos and recorded digital video files.

When Madeleine Lefkowitz, 11, of Kentfield, stepped up to the podium she told of a fairy named Poppy who was born with fiery red hair and no wings. She said she came up with the idea after looking at a fairy coloring book and seeing poppy paintings by Georgia O'Keeffe.

In her short story, Madeleine's fairy heroine must contend with the other fairies who make fun of her for not having wings. Madeleine said the workshop helped her develop the plot.

"They had us play some writing games. It was a really great experience," she said.

Her mother Michelle Lefkowitz said Madeleine loved the program and being able to read her work at Book Passage is just the icing on the cake.

"It's a great experience to be in a book shop surrounded by photos of famous people who have read their books here. To have this be at the end of (the program) is very special," Lefkowitz said.

Brian Quinn, Tibi's father, said this was the third year his son has participated in the program. He said the camp has had a long-lasting effect on Tibi.

"It provides a foundation of confidence that lasts throughout the school year," Quinn said.

This was the second year Evan Long, 13, has participated in the writing camp. The Colorado resident visits Marin County in the summer with his family and enjoys writing mystery-noir stories.

Evan shared a story he wrote about a former policeman who suffers anguish after finding a rare luminescent green stone, which he keeps under his bed. He said his story was inspired by English author J.R.R Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

"I really like writing things that are plot-driven," Evan said. "I like to write in the dark to set the feeling of noir."

Local Camp Codirector Jennifer Cook Sterling, a Bacich teacher, said it's been an amazing experience to work with Evan and the other talented youngsters.

"We've been dazzled by their writing for the past three weeks," she said.